With only 10 days remaining until the highly anticipated 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Gateway Games 2024’ kicks off in Abeokuta, Ogun State, excitement is palpable.
A standout feature of this year’s event is the introduction of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA), a pioneering initiative from the National Sports Commission (NSC) aimed at nurturing Nigeria’s brightest young sporting talents.
The IJA team, affectionately referred to as the “38th state,” comprises over 100 talented teenage athletes selected from across Nigeria. These promising youngsters will compete against their more experienced counterparts in approximately 11 sports during the National Sports Festival, showcasing their skills on a national stage.
In a statement issued on Monday by the SA media to the DG of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Kola Daniel, the vision of the commission for the IJA is to provide the young athletes with a unique opportunity to develop in a competitive environment, helping to accelerate their growth and performance.
The statement said the energy and optimism buzzing within the IJA camp is a testament to this vision taking shape, as these athletes are eager to prove themselves.
The IJA will compete in a diverse range of sports, including athletics, badminton, football, para athletics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, wrestling, and weightlifting. These disciplines have been carefully chosen to leverage Nigeria’s strengths while preparing the next generation of sports stars for both national and international competitions.
While the inclusion of the IJA is focused on development, the athletes are not merely participants; they are determined to challenge the status quo. From the track to the wrestling mats, and from the swimming pools to the weightlifting platforms, these young competitors are ready to make their presence felt.
Scheduled to run from May 16 to 30, the Gateway Games 2024 is set to be a monumental event, attracting between 12,000 and 15,000 athletes competing in over 30 sports. This makes it the largest gathering of sporting talent in Nigeria’s history, and all eyes will undoubtedly be on the IJA as they strive to showcase their abilities and aspirations.
As the countdown to the Gateway Games continues, it is evident that the future of Nigerian sports is not merely on the horizon — it is arriving, proudly represented by the Invited Junior Athletes.
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